Newswire
A proposed ballot measure to eliminate a cash-flush early childhood program approved by voters three years ago is the last major piece of a Republican budget-balancing plan awaiting action by the Legislature. The legislation would permanently repeal the First Things First program and transfer its funding from a tobacco tax increase into the general fund to use for unspecified “health and human services for children.”
Facing an uphill battle, proponents of a ballot measure to legalize marijuana are mapping out a campaign stress the millions of dollars in tax revenue that pot could provide. The initiative, sponsored by Oakland marijuana magnate Richard Lee, would legitimize the sale of marijuana and allow pot shops to open their doors in cities that permit it. Local authorities could also decide how to tax and regulate marijuana sales, although it’s unclear if federal officials would tolerate such a bold and unprecedented move.
La Center residents will soon have one more tool to use when they want their voices heard by local elected officials. This month, the La Center City Council is expected to adopt the initiative and referendum process residents worked months to acquire. The council was presented with a petition for the right in November and in December announced its intention to adopt the process. On March 24, the 90 days for challenges to the petition will have ended, allowing the city council to adopt an ordinance giving registered voters the right of the initiative and referendum.
In an effort to close the city budget deficit and find ways to increase revenues, Costa Mesa officials are exploring the idea of increasing the hotel and business license taxes with a November ballot initiative. Although that move might not go over well in the current economic climate, Costa Mesa will have to do something to increase revenue sources, supporters of the tax hikes say.
A group of Massachusetts mayors, fed up with what they say is legislative inaction on skyrocketing municipal health care costs, has launched a ballot initiative for 2012 aimed at giving cities and towns more flexibility in reducing expensive benefits for employees, retirees, and elected officials. Mayor Thomas M. Menino of Boston hosted a strategy session of about 20 mayors in City Hall Friday. The group emerged with a proposal to allow communities to reduce benefits without union negotiations.
Gov. Chris Gregoire on Friday signed a measure meant to make ballots less confusing to voters. Under the measure that was unanimously passed by both the House and Senate, ballots will have to be clearly marked to show where ballot instructions end and the spot to vote begins. The bill was sparked by confusion in King County over a cluttered ballot design that officials say caused about 40,000 voters to skip over Tim Eyman’s Initiative 1033 in the November election.
Transportation agencies in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa and other Bay Area counties are considering seeking voter approval to increase auto registration fees by $10 a year to fix potholes, improve transit and fight congestion. Officials believe that the public is so fed up with poor road conditions and bus and rail cuts because of reduced state funding that they may agree to higher fees in economic hard times. A simple majority approval is needed for individual counties to raise the registration fee. Most measures would be on the November ballot.
A proposed ballot measure that would require North Dakota legislators to read all bills and post them on the internet 4 days before final votes are taken is receiving mixed opinions from several local legislators. Retired Bismarck businessman, David Wolfer, is chairman of the initiative’s sponsoring committee. He says the idea will ensure legislators are more familiar with state laws they’re putting on the books.
Nebraska lawmakers deep-sixed a proposal Thursday that would have made it easier to get initiative petitions on the ballot. Legislative Resolution 300CA garnered only seven votes in favor and 12 in opposition. A majority of the 49 senators didn’t vote at all - 25 abstained and five were absent. State Sen. John Nelson of Omaha, who introduced the measure, said he was not surprised at the outcome but thought the vote would be closer.
The candidates aren’t the whole story in the May 8 elections. Voters in four communities also will decide the fate of ballot referendums. In Galveston the school district is pushing to replace the aging Kermit Courville Stadium with a multiuse sports venue that would be home of the Ball High football team and other sports. The proposal would allow the district to spent up to $35 million to build the complex on property it owns on 83rd Street.